20 AUGUST 1932, Page 22

QUARTETTE. By Leslie Meller. (Faber and Faber, 7s. 6d.) —This

distinguished and perceptive piece of work raises an

interesting question. To what extent do we require that an author who relates moving and pas.sionate occurrences shall himself be moved by them ? Mr. Diener achieves the detach- ment of a cash register recording the purchase price of a treasured heirloom. I admire his skill, but personally prefer a more immediate method of approach.